Reliance Communications-Aircel Deal Gets CCI Nod

NEW DELHI: Reliance Communications today said it has received approval of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for the demerger of its wireless division into Aircel Ltd and Dishnet Wireless Ltd.

"Reliance Communications Ltd has received an approval of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for the proposed Scheme of Arrangement for demerger of the Wireless division of the company into Aircel Ltd and Dishnet Wireless Ltd," the company said in a regulatory filing.

Reliance Communications and Aircel in September last year announced the merger of their wireless operations to create a combined entity with assets worth 65,000 crore.

"Post closing, the company and the present shareholders of Aircel Ltd will hold 50 per cent each in Aircel Ltd," Reliance Communication said.

The company has already received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), stock exchanges BSE and NSE for the deal and has filed an application with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for the same.

The transaction will reduce RCom's debt by 20,000 crore (USD 3 billion), while Aircel's debt would go down by 4,000 crore (USD 600 million) on closing in 2017, the two companies had said last year.

Shares of Reliance Communications were trading 0.78 down at 37.95 on BSE.

RCom, in September last year, announced it will merge its wireless telecom business with smaller rival Aircel to create what will be the country's 3rd-biggest mobile phone operator, with asset base of more than 65,000 crore and net worth of 35,000 crore.

Both the companies will transfer 14,000 crore of debt each to the joint venture, taking the total debt of the new company to 28,000 crore.

Post closing of the deal, RCom and the present shareholders of Aircel Ltd (Maxis Communications Berhad) will hold 50 pct each in the merged entity, with equal representation on the board and committees.

The Competition Commission of India's nod to RCom and Aircel merger comes amid a massive consolidation drive in the telecom sector, intensified by the disruptive entry of newcomer Reliance Jio.

Earlier today the board of Idea Cellular approved its amalgamation with telecom operator Vodafone India and Vodafone Mobile Services, to create the country's largest telecom service provider.